Explained: How bizarre half-time incident made Aston Villa's Robin Olsen the pantomime villain at Crystal Palace
Robin Olsen became the pantomime villain in Villa’s 4-1 defeat at Crystal Palace following a bizarre incident involving a children’s penalty shoot-out.
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The Sweden international drew the ire of home supporters at Selhurst Park on Tuesday night after refusing to budge and allow the planned half-time entertainment to take place at the Holmesdale Road end of the ground.
Olsen was warming-up in the goalmouth, catching crosses from Villa goalkeeping coach Javi Garcia, after being told he would be replacing the injured Emi Martinez for the second half.
So he unsurprisingly ignored requests to move, meaning the children’s shoot-out had to take place at the opposite end of the ground.
That was after an awkward incident which saw Palace’s matchday host walk right up to the 35-year-old to make the request while shouting into a microphone.
With Olsen apparently oblivious and unmoved, the home side’s mascot Pete the Eagle also took umbrage and while Villa supporters gave the keeper their backing, singing “we shall not be moved”, Palace supporters were rather less sympathetic and the visiting shot-stopper was booed and subjected to abuse during the second half.
Of far greater concern for Olsen and Villa were the three goals he conceded as Unai Emery’s team collapsed to a 4-1 defeat which damaged their hopes of European qualification.
Palace later poked fun at the goalkeeper after the game by posting an image of him and their with the caption: "There was only one winner tonight." The Premier League club did, however, later delete footage of the strange “exchange” between Olsen and the matchday host.
Olsen could make just his second start of the season in Friday’s fifth round FA Cup tie with Cardiff City, with Martinez due to be tested by Villa’s medical staff after complaining of pain in the first half.
